Testicular immune cell populations and macrophage polarisation in adult male mice and the influence of altered activin A levels

Detailed morphological characterization of testicular leukocytes in the adult CX₃CR₁^gfp/+ transgenic mouse identified two distinct CX₃CR₁⁺ mononuclear phagocyte (macrophage and dendritic cell) populations: stellate/dendriform cells opposed to the seminiferous tubules (peritubular), and polygonal cells associated with Leydig cells (interstitial). Using confocal microscopy combined with stereological enumeration of CX₃CR₁^gfp/+ cells established that there were twice as many interstitial cells (68%) as peritubular cells (32%). Flow cytometric analyses of interstitial cells from mechanically-dissociated testes identified multiple mononuclear phagocyte subsets based on surface marker expression (CX₃CR₁, F4/80, CD11c). These cells comprised 80% of total intratesticular leukocytes, as identified by CD45 expression. The remaining leukocytes were CD3⁺ (T lymphocytes) and NK1.1⁺ (natural killer cells). Functional phenotype assessment using CD206 (an anti-inflammatory/M2 marker) and MHC class II (an activation marker) identified a potentially tolerogenic CD206⁺MHCII⁺ sub-population (12% of total CD45⁺ cells). Rare testicular subsets of CX₃CR₁⁺CD11c⁺F4/80⁺ (4.3%) mononuclear phagocytes and CD3⁺NK1.1⁺ (3.1%) lymphocytes were also identified for the first time. In order to examine the potential for the immunoregulatory cytokine, activin A to modulate testicular immune cell populations, testes from adult mice with reduced activin A (Inhba^+/-) or elevated activin A (Inha^+/-) were assessed using flow cytometry. Although the proportion of F4/80⁺CD11b⁺ leukocytes (macrophages) was not affected, the frequency of CD206⁺MHCII⁺cells was significantly lower and CD206⁺MHCII^- correspondingly higher in Inha^+/- testes. This shift in expression of MHCII in CD206⁺ macrophages indicates that changes in circulating and/or local activin A influence resident macrophage activation and phenotype and, therefore, the immunological environment of the testis.

Halogen NQR Studies in Certain Mercuric Halide-Polyether Complexes

The temperature variation of 35Cl and 81Br NQR frequencies are reported for mercuric chloride · triethylene glycol dimethyl ether (HgCl2 · triglyme), mercuric chloride · diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (HgCl2 · diglyme), and mercuric bromide · diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (HgBr2 · diglyme). The frequencies have been assigned to the appropriate halogens using molecular models which take into account the various intra- and inter-molecular interactions in the solid state. The observed temperature variation of the NQR frequencies, in the range 77 -300 K. has been analysed using the two torsional mode analysis in the framework of the Bayer-Kushida-Brown method with Tatsuzaki’s correction to obtain the torsional frequencies and their average temperature coefficients.

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of a new series of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives

A series of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives (1a–g) were prepared from three compounds condensation of Hantzsch synthesis. A new series of 2,2’-{[4-(aryl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-diyl]dicarbonyl}dihydrazinecarbothioamide (2a-g) were prepared from compounds diethyl 4-(aryl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (1a-g) reacted with thiosemicarbazide to give the corresponding compounds (2a-g) by hydrazinolysis method. The synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR, ¹HNMR, ¹³CNMR, mass spectral and elemental analyses. The newly synthesized compounds (2a-g) were screened for anticonvulsant activity against in swiss albino rat. The test was evaluated by maximal electrode induced convulsion method. Synthesized compounds were used two (50 and 100 mg/kg) concentrations. Compounds (1a-g) were inactive while compounds (2a-g) have moderate anti-convulsant activity compared with standard phenytoin drug. The compound 2,2’-{[4-(furan-2-yl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-diyl]dicarbonyl} dihydrazinecarbothioamide (2a) has highly active compared with other compound (2b-2g).